Veneer-cutting machine



(No'Model.)

L. B. MGALPINB. VENERE CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 440,321. Figui Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

NITnn STATES 'PATENT Grrrcn.

LEMUEL B. MCALPINE, OF HOMER, NEV YORK.

VEN EER-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,321, dated November 11, 1890.

Application tiled November 3, 1888. Serial No. 289,885. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, LEMUEL B. MCALPINE, of Homer, in the countyof Cortland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veneer-Saving Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to an improved ve.- neer-cutting machine of the class which is particularly well adapted for cutting a veneer circumferentially of the log, the log and cutters being so moved with relation to each other that the line of out will be spiral toward the center of thelog, the length of the veneer being only gaged by the diameter of the log.

Machines for cutting veneers according to the method just set forth have heretofore employed stationary knives, against which the wood was driven, or saws or cutters reciprocating in straight lines, either of which constructions prevented the sawing of veneers from logs of any great length or else necessitated the employment of straight ways -in which the reciprocating cutters could work to give the necessary support during the cutting opera-tion; and, as it has been found impracticable to employ a long reciprocating knife or saw in such machines by reason of the difficulties incurred in feeding the log forward, it has been necessary that the cutters be comparatively short and move clear beyond the log between each stroke, during which time the necessary forward movement of the log takes place.

It is the object of my present invention to overcome or in a great measure obviate the disadvantages of machines of the character set forth and provide a machine in which a number of cutters are employed which will operate to cut the log rapidly and effectually clear themselves during the cutting operation and permit the log to be fed forward more rapidly than has been possible with machines as heretofore constructed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation of the cutters and their operating mechanism in position to begin cutting a log held by suitable bearings ter or base I mean a center or base which Y does not move with the cutters during the cutting operation, so that each individual cutter moves in a true arc of a circle, its oenter of oscillation being held rigidly against any movement in the direction or line of the cut being made, and such a base is preferably formed of a base-timber B, having bearings O on its upper surface, in which the short shafts D are fitted. These shafts are bolted or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the cutter-arms, and have braces D uniting their ends and the cutter-arms at a point some distance from the shaft to afford the required lateral support for the cutters.

The point of attachment between the braces and cutters may be varied to suit the style and strength of the cutters employed. In the drawings this point of attachment is shown about half-way between the pivotal point and end of the cutters.

At a point above the pivotal point, and preferably for the sake of convenience at the point Where the braces join the cutters,a connecting-rcd E unites all the cutters and causes the simultaneous movement, each, however, moving on its own independent center.

The power for driving the cutters may be derived from any suitable source, preferably being applied through the medium of a crank and connecting-rod, as shown in the drawings, the length of the stroke of the cutters being thus rendered uniform under all conditions, thereby enabling the feed of the log to be easily determined. The log G is mounted on centers g and caused to revolve and advance toward the knives in any preferred or well-known manner, the mechanism for causing such movement forming no part of my present invention, and has not been illustrated.

For the purpose of adjusting the knives.

ICO

with relation to the log, the base maybe made adjustable by means of screws and nuts H, permitting the use of dierent-sized cutters; or, if desired, the cutting-edges may be adjustably connected to the pivoted arms, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein the cutter proper is slotted at z' and united to the pivoted arms by screw-bolts 7c, a plate Z, having a beveled upper edge, preferably being secured on the ou tside of the cutters to hold the same more securely and also prevent the catching of the veneer on the bolt-heads, as will be readily understood, this latter construction also permitting any wear on individual knives to be compensated for, and all theknves kept in perfect alignment, so as to make aperfect cut.

The form of the cutters may be varied to suit different kinds of work, but are preferably chisel-shaped with the cutting-ends widened out, as shown in Fig. l, forming two cuttingedges-oneat each side-and each adapted to make a certain definite out, as will be presently explained. It may be found desirable in some-instan ces to form more than two cutting-edges on each cutter and to set the edges so formed, as in the case of an ordinary saw. (See Fig. 2.)

By reference to Fig. 3 the manner of operation will be readily understood. The cutters, it will be seen, make a series of curved cuts intersecting each other and at the completion of each stroke move clear out of the cut. At the moment when the knivesare clear of the cut the log is fed forward. Thus on the return-stroke each cutter removes a defined chip, the thickness of which is determined by the movement of the log, and when the cutter intersects the cut made by the cutter in advance of it the chips will be cut clear and allowed to fall out. Should a number of cutting-edges be employed on each cutter, it may be found undesirable to move the cutters clear of the cut at each stroke, and the log in such instance is given a constant feed in any well-known manner.

It is obvious that the number of cutters employed in operating on a single log or timber may be greatly increased or a less number may be employed, and that they may be made to work from above or horizontally without departing-from the spirit of my invention. It is also obvious that such cutters may be employed in other Work than cutting veneers, as for sawing timber orforming grooves, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is l. In a veneer-cutting machine, the combination, with a fixed base, of cutters pivoted on said base with cutting-edges on each side, a driving mechanism for oscillating said cutters, whereby each cutter is given a definite movement about its fixed center, and a blockholding mechanism adjacent to said cutters, substantially as described.

2. In a veneer-cutting machine, the combination, with a fixed base, of a series of independently-adjustable cutters pivoted on said base, a driving mechanism for oscillating said cutters, and a block-holding mechanism adjacent to said cutters, substantially as described.

3. In a veneer-cutting machine, the combination, with the block-holdin g mechanism,of a series of oscillating cutters having cutting edges at each side and pivoted on independent centers, and a crank for oscillating said cutters beyond the intersections of the cuts formed by adjacent cutters, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a Wood-working machine, With a series of cutting blades or chisels, of the extended pivotal shafts on which they are mounted, and the braces extending from the ends of the shafts to the cuttingblade-s to afford the necessary lateral strength, substantially as described.

LEMUEL B. MOALPINE.

Vitnesses:

W. H. CRANE, PIMBROKE PRIM. 

